--1 Introduction 11 --1.1 Verzuiling and ontzuiling 11 --1.2 Primary education and its relation to verzuiling 13 --1.3 Alternatives for a segmented system of primary education: an international overview 18 --1.4 The local and regional levels as the focus of research 24 --1.5 Research problem, construction of the study, sources 28 --2 Theories of verzuiling and ontzuiling and their relevance for the primary education system 34 --2.1 The consociational model of rule making 34 --2.2 Verzuiling as a process of mobilization 39 --2.3 Verzuiling as a means of social control 52 --2.4 Local contexts 59 --2.5 A summary of theories and operational definitions 66 --3 The evolution of verzuiling and ontzuiling in primary education at the national level 73 --3.1 Legislative developments 74 --3.2 Denominational heterogeneity 85 --3.3 Basic trends of verzuiling in primary education 95 --4 The diffusion of denominational primary education 1870-1930 112 --4.1 Diffusion theory, Daalder's hypothesis and problems of operationalization 113 --4.2 The diffusion of denominational schools 120 --4.3 The diffusion of participation in denominational education 133 --4.4 The influence of urbanization and industrialization on verzuiling 155 --5 Ontzuiling, less pupils, a budgetary squeeze and the evolution of primary education 1977-1984 162 --5.1 Ontzuiling and stagnation 162 --5.2 New conditions for the education system 174 --5.3 Recent trends of ontzuiling in the education system 191 --5.4 Planning for decline 208 --6 Conclusions 224